CLE 5, MIN 2: Cleveland Prevails on Lindor Walk-Off Homer

 

They either shouldn't be on the roster or you need a new manager with the ability to trust.  

Concur; especially with the latter.

#MolitorNeedsToGo

I realize that Forsythe isn't high on the list of concerns for this club. He's played well here, I'll definitely give him credit there. My issue is that he's playing every day. Why isn't Adrianza playing 2B to at least see if he can back up his good streak with the bat when he was playing every day. Unless Gordon finishes hot and has a hot spring, he's not going to be on the active roster come the start of next season. Forsythe isn't the future answer, Adrianza is at least signed for next year so why not give him a run there?

Molitor's refusal to actually try to build up the young guys continues to irk me. Just another reason why I don't believe that he's the right fit here.

I realize that Forsythe isn't high on the list of concerns for this club. He's played well here, I'll definitely give him credit there. My issue is that he's playing every day. Why isn't Adrianza playing 2B to at least see if he can back up his good streak with the bat when he was playing every day. Unless Gordon finishes hot and has a hot spring, he's not going to be on the active roster come the start of next season. Forsythe isn't the future answer, Adrianza is at least signed for next year so why not give him a run there?

 

Because Adrianza has to be available to pinch-hit for Johnny Field, obviously!

Now Field may not be here next year either, but what do you expect Molitor to do, consider the future of multiple lineup spots simultaneously? While grieving over Belisle's knee?

Molitor's refusal to actually try to build up the young guys continues to irk me.

I agree with you about playing Adrianza over Forsythe, but worth noting that Adrianza is almost 29 years old (birthday on August 21, which my wall calendar says is also Senior Citizens Day ).

So he's not that young, but he's definitely a bigger part of our future than Forsythe.

I would say because Adrianza is the only viable backup for all the infield positions, so he is being used in a utilityrole.  Let's be honest with ourselves here, Adrianza will be 29 next week and we know what he is.  A light hitting, glove first infielder.  If he were 23 and shown signs with his bat at any level, I would get this gripe, but eh...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not losing sleep over it. It's not as though Adrianza couldn't slide anywhere else on the infield if an injury came up during a game if he started. It's not like he's DH'ing. I just don't see much use in playing Forsythe since it's very unlikely that he'll be back.  

I agree with you about playing Adrianza over Forsythe, but worth noting that Adrianza is almost 29 years old (birthday on August 21, which my wall calendar says is also Senior Citizens Day ).

So he's not that young, but he's definitely a bigger part of our future than Forsythe.

Right, and I get that he's not all that young. Since he's much more likely to be here next season, it would stand to reason that he should see more action. I'm not losing sleep over it, I just see it as Molitor playing another veteran over somebody who could use the playing time more for future considerations.

For all we know the FO could be intending to bring Forsythe back.

I hope not. There will be quite a few infield alternatives on the free agent market, and our lack of financial commitments suggests we don't have to go cheap on the position.

On the other hand Forsythe is a year and a half removed from a 3.4 WAR season. I know he was brutal with the stick in LA this season, if they don't think Gordon will be ready next year (not looking good) I could see extending a 1 year "prove it" type deal for Forsythe. He's only 31 and the Twins do have a lot of depth up the middle in the minors. I would be surprised to see them going to free agency and signing a multi year deal to a 2B/SS this offseason.

After last year's slow market, and this year's large crop of pending FA infielders, there is a good chance they don't have to make a multi-year offer to get a better player than Forsythe.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/2018-19-mlb-free-agents.html

It's kind of hard to overuse a hitter, compared to a pitcher. They are two different animals. Most hitters don't need time off, if they do, that handicaps the teams. Pitchers? totally different, they need time off.

I get that but what it all boils down to for me is the manager, how and when he uses certain players. How he manages the BP, the lineups, the players. It's not anyone's decision but his. Period. And if you are giving leeway to some players to make that call, that's on the manager and the FO for allowing it.

As Mike noted, they are not remotely comparable situations.

Yes, they are ... because it's the manager's decision who plays when, where, how. It's on him. And if he's not making those calls, why isn't he? It's his job! Giving deference  to some players' 'needs' over others is not the way to manage.

I'm really trying to stay composed. 

 

I am already at peace with the knowledge that we won't win the World Series this year and don't care about W's and L's at this moment in time as a result.  

 

But my frustration is starting to get the better of me because when I consider 2019.  I don't understand what purpose Forsythe and Morrison are serving the franchise and therefore don't understand why they are playing every day. 

 

I can justify Drake if I squint my eyes but I can't justify Forsythe, Morrison and of course Belisle. 

 

So yeah... I'm getting ready to join your chorus. 

This whole season I've found roster management frustrating ... both from the FO with call ups and moves and with the manager in his in-game management of the roster given him.